Real

I Timothy 1:1-11 (The Message)

I, Paul, am an apostle on special assignment for Christ, our living hope. Under God our Savior's command, I'm writing this to you, Timothy, my son in the faith. All the best from our God and Christ be yours!

On my way to the province of Macedonia, I advised you to stay in Ephesus. Well, I haven't changed my mind. Stay right there on top of things so that the teaching stays on track. Apparently some people have been introducing fantasy stories and fanciful family trees that digress into silliness instead of pulling the people back into the center, deepening faith and obedience.

The whole point of what we're urging is simply love—love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God. Those who fail to keep to this point soon wander off into cul-de-sacs of gossip. They set themselves up as experts on religious issues, but haven't the remotest idea of what they're holding forth with such imposing eloquence.

It's true that moral guidance and counsel need to be given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what you say. It's obvious, isn't it, that the law code isn't primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever! They are contemptuous of this great Message I've been put in charge of by this great God.

This morning, after dropping my oldest at school, I scanned the cd's in my car to see what I had to listen to. My trust "90's" compilation was ready at hand. In the 80's, I was a master of the "mix tape," so you can imagine my love of digital music ripping and burning. I know, get an ipod.

An old Blues Traveler song came up (and hold in there, bear with me), I swear it made me think about this scripture.

"Hook"
It doesn't matter what I say
So long as I sing with inflection
That makes you feel I'll convey
Some inner truth or vast reflection
But I've said nothing so far
And I can keep it up for as long as it takes
And it don't matter who you are
If I'm doing my job then it's your resolve that breaks

Because the hook brings you back
I ain't tellin' you no lie
The hook brings you back
On that you can rely

There is something amiss
I am being insincere
In fact I don't mean any of this
Still my confession draws you near
To confuse the issue I refer
To familiar heroes from long ago

So much preaching that happens in our churches today is of this variety. So much "Christian" living happens at this level, too. Paul tells us that he had grown absolutely exhausted by those in the early Christian community who would preach one thing with great inflection, then go and live another way entirely.

Paul calls Timothy to hold the line of authenticity. He reminds him that what matters most of all is the day to day "preaching" that is a life lived in love, "uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God."

I think that's exactly what people are looking for, when we slice down through all the "hooks" out there that seek to deceive us. Look for what's real. Nothing is more real than God's love.

Prayer: God our Father, we pray that you would give us sincere faith, and tear down the idols that we have created in our lives. May nothing separate us from the grce and love of Jesus. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end, Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture (no blog) I Timothy 1:12-17 We'll see you this Sunday at SOTH!

Worship at 9 and 11 AM with Sunday School for everyone at 10:15.